Vending apparatus



A. E. MANTHEY AND 0. C. THIEL.

VENDING APPARATUS."

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1918.

1,318,217. Patented Oct. 7,1919.

I Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. E. MANTHEY AND O. C. THIEL.

VENDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 191a.

. v x .(6 47 557 I G Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.AIIGUST E. MANTHEY AND OSCAR C. THIEL, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

VENDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. '7, 1919.

Application'filed September 9, 1918. Serial No. 253,128.

Improvement in Vending Apparatus, of

which the following is a full, clear, concise,

and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to coin or slug controlled vending apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of this character which is designed to supply gas or fluid from a certain source of supply.

In a particular form' which our invention maytake, it is applied to the vending of the right to procure air for automobile-tires.

Our invention in general consists of means such as a hose which may be normally held in an inoperative position, but upon the deposit of a suitable coin may be moved to a point of application where the air is desired so that air under pressure may be secured to'supplythe tires.

Our invention is designed to provide an extremely simple structure for accomplish ing these results.

' Our invention is also designed to provide suitable safe guards against misuse.- Our invention is also designed to at will cause the operation of means to supply additional air to the storage tank from which the air is drawn to fill the tires.

Our invention further contemplates locking means for the extremity of the hose which are 'so arranged that it is automatically self-locking after-use and self-restoring to its initial position.

In the drawings we have illustrated one form which our invention may take as the same is applied to a vendingf'apparatus for controlling the supply of a1r to pneumatic tires. i

In these drawings Figure 1 is 'a front view of the device with the front wall and its associated controlling apparatus removed;

Fig. 2 is a side View of the apparatus with the side wall removed to show the interior mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a front view ofthe control apparatus and its supporting plate; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line H of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed side view partly in section of the nozzle, and

I Fig. 6 is a detail View more or less diagrammatic illustrating certain circuit connectlons.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1

and 2, we show a casing 10 which may suitably inclose the entire machine and which, if desired, may be mounted interiorl wall with the control apparatus pro ecting therethrough so that the device .can be operated from the outside if desired. Within this casing we provide a framework 11 upon which a suitable plurality of sheaves 12 are individually and rotatably mounted. This framework 11 by virtue of the arms 13 and 14 forms a guide for the sheaves to prevent the coiled hose 15 from leaving the grooves in saidsheaves. A further plurality of sheaves 16 are individuall and rotatably mounted within a carriage 1 This movable carriage has rollers 18 by virtue of which it operates along suitable guides or channels 19 and 20 provided along the side walls of the machine. This carriage likewise has straps 21 and 22 similar to the straps 13 and 14, which straps keep the hose 15 confined to the grooves of the sheaves 16.

The hose at one extremity is attached at 23 to the service pipe 24. This service pipe may run out of the casing at any suitable plied. The opposite extremity of the hose ends in. a nozzle 28. This hose extremity projects through a mouth 29 provided in the cup 30. Normally this hose extremity is locked in] position in the mouth, but whenever a coin is inserted, as will presently be explained, then suitable control mechanisms are actuated, and this nozzle is unlocked and the hose may be drawn outwardly through the mouth 29 so that the nozzle 28 may be applied to the valve stems of the tires of the automobile. The carriage 17 is weighted by the weights 31 and 32 so that it normally is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with all of the hose interiorly of the cars ing 10. As soon as the hose is drawn outwardly through the mouth 29, then the carriage 17 is raised. As soon as the user releases {his hold upon the nozzle 28, the weights 31 and 32 carry the carriage downwardly, thereby drawing the hose interiorly of the casing 10 and again locking the nozzle in position so that it cannot be removed until a further coin is inserted. Any other suitable means such as springs may of course replace the weights 31 and 32 if desired.

In order to control the locking means which look the nozzle extremity in position, we provide a rod 33 which normally tends to move upwardly by reason of the spring 34. This rod loosely passes through a finger 35 carried by the carriage 17. A cushioning spring 36 is carried at the lowermost extremity of the rod 33. Now, whenever the carriage 17 moves upwardly, it permits the spring 34 to pull the rod 33 u|pwardly a short distance. Whenever the carriage 17 again moves downwardly it restores the rod 33 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The carriage 17 likewise has a finger 36,'

which finger actuates the control bar 37 provided upon the stem of the valve 25. Thus whenever the carriage 17 moves upwardly, it opens the valve 25 so that the hose receives the full pressure from the storage tank and when the carriage 17 again moves downwardly, it engages the element 37 and closes this valve so-that' normally there need be no pressure within the hose 15. The lower extremity of the rod 33, as shown more clearly in Fig. 6, is by means of chain links 38 connected with a lever 39 whichoperates any suitable form of push button electric switch 40 to control the current'jfrom the mains 41 to a motor 42 which operates the pump to resupply the storage tank from which the air under pressure is drawn by the service pipe 24. A hand switch 43 is introduced so that this motor need be under the control of the rod 33 only when desired, such for: instance as at night. Thus, when the rod 33 moves downwardly it operates the switch to close the circuit and when the rod 33 moves upwardly it opens the circuit to the motor. Under such conditions of operation the relief valve 27 is of particular value.

A reference to Fig. 5 willshow that the hose- 15 is relieved from strain when the nozzle extremity is locked in position, even though a prospective user may attempt to pull out the nozzle 28. The hose itself is suitably placed in position about the nlpple 44 and the locking sleeve 45 by virtue of which this hose extremity is locked in position is screw threaded upon the nozzle 28. This sleeve has an annular recess 48 for locking purposes and it will now be explained. I

Within the cup shaped mounting plate 30 we provide a pair of locking plates 46, 46 which are rotatably held in place by the rivets 47. T/Vhen these plates 46 occupy the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, they have restricted the passageway back of the mouth 29 and have entered the recess 48 to lock the nozzle extremity into position. A suitable spring 49 tends to hold these parts 46 in this locking position. Now, in order to move these parts 46 outwardly, so as to permit release of the nozzle extremity, we provide a wedge 50 which is mounted upon a lever 51, which lever is pivotally mounted at 52. This lever is designed to be operated by the slide 53 which in a well understood manner is moved inwardly after a coin is deposited in the recess 54 As this slide 53 is moved inwardly, the coin strikes the tail piece 55, swinging the lever 51 clockwise and inserting the wedge between the plates 46, thus releasing. the nozzle extremity'. A spring catch 56 pivotally mounted as shown engages a lug 57 provided upon the'lever and holds the lever in its unlocking position. As soon as the nozzle extremity has been unlocked the user may grasp the nozzle 28 and draw the hose outwardly. The initial movement upwardly of the carriage 17 permits upward movement of the rod 33, which by means of the finger 58 moves the slidable rod 59 .upwardly as said finger 58 engages the stop 60 provided upon the rod 59. The upward movement of this rod 59 through the interposition of the chain 61 releases the spring catch 56 and permits the lever 51 to assume the position-shown in full lines in Fig. 4. The lock consisting of the plates 46 is thus in' position to .again lock the nozzle into position as soon as the nozzle extremity is by the weights 31 and 32 drawn into the osition shown in Fig. 4. It would require a further insertion of a coin to again operate the device. A spring 62 normally holds the lever in the position shown in Fig.4 and a spring 63 tends to hold the spring catch 56 in the position shown. Suitable means may be used to illuminate the bulb 64 provided upon the upper extremity of the device.

In'the claims we use the word hose to signify any sort of flexible pipe or tubing which will answer the purposes outlined herein.

From this description of one specific form of our invention its general nature will be uncoiling of said hose to restore said locking locking element secure means when unlocked to its locking position.

2. In a device of the character described T the combination with a suitable length of hose having a free extremity, means where- V by said hose may be coiled and uncoiled by the withdrawal or retraction of its free extremity, lockin means to normally look said free extremlty against withdrawal, coin controlled mechanism to unlock said locking,

means, means controlled upon the initial uncoiling of said hose to restore said locking means when unlocked to its locking position, a pressure supply pipe connected with the other extremity of sald hose, a valve in said pressure supply pipe, and means controlled upon the coiling or uncoiling of said hose to control said valve. i

3. In a device of the character described the combination with a hose extremity, a lock thegefor, a nozzle for the hose extremity, and a locking element fixedly secured to said nozzle to automatically operate the lock to prevent the-removal of the. hose from theloc.

4. In a device of the character described the combination with a seat, a hose extremity, a nozzle therefor, locking means and.

means fixedly secured to. said nozzle extremity to automatically operate the locking means to lock the same against said seat.

5. In a device of the character described the combination with a seat, a hose extrem-' ity, a nozzle therefor, a locking elementv opening," a spring tending to move said ele-' ment partly across said opening, a hose extremity having a nozzle and a wedge shaped to said nozzle and having a recess adapted to be engaged by said locking element as the nozz'le-ismoved into said 0 ening.

7. In a evice of the character described the combination with a suitable length of hose having a free extremity, meanswhereby said hose may bev coiled anduncoiled by the withdrawal or retraction. of itsfree extremity, locking means to normally lock said I said jaw.

free extremity against withdrawal, coin con trolled mechanism to unlock said locking means, means controlled upon the initial uncoiling of said hose to restore said locking means when unlocked to its locking position, an electric motor circuit, and means controlled upon the coiling and uncoiling of said hose to control said motor circuit.

8. In a device of the character described the combination with a seat, a hose extremity adapted to be drawn therethrou h to and fro, a locking element carried %y said hose extremity, a pair of locking members adapted to engage said element to lock the hose, and a coin controlled wedge 10. In a device of the character described the combination with a seat, a hose extremity adapted to be drawn therethrough to and fro, a locking element carried by said hose extremity, a movable jaw provided adjacent said seat, coin controlled 'means to actuate said jaw, a catch to hold said coin controlled means when actuated in its jaw controlling position, and means controlled by the initial withdrawal of said hose'to release said catch and permit restoration of 11. In a device of the character described the combination with a free hose .extremit a nozzle therefor, locking means to normaliy lock said nozzle against withdrawal, coin controlled means to release said locking mechanism, and means controlled by the initial withdrawal of said hose to restore said locking means to its locking position.

12. In a device of the character described the combination with a suitable length of hose having a free extremity, means whereby said hose may be coiled and uncoiled by the withdrawal or retraction of its free extremity, locking means to normally lock said free extremity against withdrawal, coin controlled mechanism to unlocksaid locking means, means controlled upon the initial uncoiling of said hose to restore sa1d locking means when unlocked to 1ts lockmgposition,

and a pressure gage to indicate the pressure v of the air within said-hose.

13. In a device of the character described a hose having'a free extremity provided with a nozzle, locking means to prevent withdrawal of the hose, means to release the locking means, means for holding said releasing means in. its'operated position and,

means actuated upon the withdrawal of the hose for releasing said holding means.

14:. In a device of the character described a hose having a free extremity adaptedto be withdrawn, locking means for said hose extremity, coin controlled means for releasing said locking means, a carriage upon which said hose is mounted and means controlled by the carriage for permitting said releasing means to return to its normal position.

15. A device for carrying a hose, said hose having, a free extremity adapted for Withdrawal or retraction, said device consisting of a plurality of sheaves, the sheaves at one extremity of said device being stationarily mounted therein, a carriage carrying a second plurality of sheaves and being mounted to slide relative to the other set of sheaves, said .hose being adapted to be wound about both of said sheaves, means associated with said sheaves to maintain the relative position of said hose upon said sheaves, means for locking said free hose extremity against withdrawal, and means controlled 'by said carriage to control said locking means.

16. In a dispensing device of the character described a hose having a free extremity and having its other end connected with a source of supply of the article to be dispensed, a valve controlling said supply, means for locking said free extremity, 'means for releasing the locking means, and means for withdrawing the hose, said withdrawing means operating to open said valve and to cause said releasing means to return to normal position. I

17. In a dispensing device of the character described, a hose, sheaves around which said hose is wound, means to prevent Withdrawal of said hose, means for holding said means in unlocked position and means controlled by one of said sheaves for releasing said holding means to permit said first means to return to locking position.

18. In a dispensing device of the character described, a hose, a movable carriage having sheaves around which said hose is wound, locking means to prevent withdrawal of the hose, means for holding said locking means in unlocked position and a spring actuated rod controlled by said carriage adapted to trip said holding means and permit said locking means to return to its locking posi tion.

19. In a device of the class described the combination of means for carrying a hose, said hose having a free extremity adapted for withdrawal or retraction, said means including an element which is movable to perunit the hose to be withdrawn or retracted, a lock controlling the withdrawal of the hose and means operable by the movable element tooperate the lock to prevent the removal of the hose.

20. In adevice of the class described the combination of means for carrying a hose, said hose having a free extremity adapted for withdrawal or retraction, a lock operable to release the hose and be held unlocked AUGUST E. 'MANTHEY. OSCAR'C. THIEL. 

